FKT: Nick Swanson-Hysell - Grand Portage Trail (MN) - 2025-06-29

I have been excited to do this run for a while. Last time on the trail was many years ago and I was portaging a canoe. Much easier without the canoe! I did the run on a beautiful late June day. Starting temperature was around 56°F with it being mostly sunny, but shady along the trail. The trail was muddier and more overgrown (just light low vegetation) than I had expected which made some portions a bit slower than I had anticipated even when there was a favorable gradient. The overgrowth made it tricky to see ones feet from time to time and I had a nice little tumble when tripping on a root not far in. When it opened up into drier portions, I tried to make the most of it and increase the pace. There is a lot of single plank boardwalk along the trail which overall is fun to run on (has a little spring), but can be tricky where wet. I had a couple steps off of the planks and sank into the mud. There is a surprisingly wide and runnable board walk far into the trail which was a nice change for a stretch. The National Park Service website warns of a detour at the start of the trail (not an issue and one can start at the normal start) and flooding at Poplar Creek (also not an issue as there is a plank to cross). My main wildlife sighting was getting charged by an angry grouse (both coming and going). I didn’t see anyone on the trail until getting to Fort Charlotte where there was a group who was canoe camping. I touched the Pigeon River and turned around for the journey back to the big lake. I wasn’t able to match Mike Ward’s one way pace on the way back, but had pushed it enough on the way out that I was able to snag the out and back FKT time (and Mike hangs on to his one way one). Early fall when things are drier might be the ticket to have faster trail conditions. I talked to a couple of the interpretive staff (in photo) at the canoe house at the historic depot were excited to hear of the effort — Ben (red sash in photo) said he now has a new time to tell people when they ask how long it takes to go out and back on the trail. We made a little commemorative birch bark sign to put up in the canoe building. The next person to break the FKT should make sure to go get it updated!